The Colorado City/Hildale area has the world's highest incidence of fumarase deficiency, an extremely rare genetic condition which causes severe mental retardation. Geneticists attribute this to the prevalence of cousin marriage between descendants of two of the town's founders, Joseph Smith Jessop and John Yates Barlow. At least half of the double community's inhabitants are descended from one or both men.

Very well thought out post. I work on the phone and talk to people all over the country so I get a good feel for where I don't want to be. I get the sense that I should avoid Utah, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Maryland, Louisiana, Texas (I live here), New Mexico, Idaho, Massachusetts, Ohio and New Jersey. Really now that I think about it everyone is pretty unpleasant except for people living in California or Colorado.

Downtown isn't too bad as patrols are heavy there because of the theater district, stafiums, Cobo Hall and the casinos. What''s scrary is just ourside of downtown, especially in and around the Cass Corridore and the semi-abandoned neighborhoods. There the weak and/or unarmed are at high risk.